We put our members first.

Running a business from home?

Make sure you’re covered!

Working from a home office, or creating and running a business from your home or apartment, can have a variety of intangible benefits, and be a wonderful way to earn a living. However, it’s important to remember that any business needs to be insured like one!

A home-based business (“HBB”), like all businesses, should be properly insured to protect both the business assets, and its owner. More often than not, HBBs are underinsured or uninsured (it’s estimated that nearly 60% of HBBs are uninsured), a fact the HBB usually discovers ONLY after an incident or loss has occurred. Following are some things to consider:

Q: If I operate my business out of my home or garage, doesn’t my homeowner’s or renter’s policy address my insurance needs?

A: Standard homeowner’s and renter’s policies were designed to cover a home, not a home business, and provide very limited coverage for business exposures.

Q: If I have a HBB, will my homeowner’s/renter’s policy provide coverage if a customer or someone making a business delivery is injured on my property?

A: Most homeowner’s/renter’s policies will not cover any liability related to your business, unless the coverage has been added separately to your policy.

Q: If I use my personal auto for business purposes, am I covered?

A: Personal auto policies only provide coverage under limited circumstances when your personal auto is used for business purposes.

Q: What options are available to help insure HBBs?

A: There are 3 primary options available, depending on the type and nature of your business:

Homeowner’s Policy Endorsement: For a minimal cost, you can add an endorsement to your existing policy to increase coverage for your business equipment and perhaps minimal liability coverage;

Home Business Policy: Provides a broader, more comprehensive spectrum of coverages than a simple endorsement;

Business Owner’s Policy (“BOP”; Created primarily for small to mid-size businesses, a BOP provides the most comprehensive spectrum of coverage for HBBs.

Q: Are there other coverage issues to consider?

A: Depending on the type and nature of your business, including whether or not you have employees, you may also need to consider:

As a HBB owner, you face a myriad of exposures including theft, accidental damage to business property, natural disaster, fire, auto accidents, liability if an employee suffers injury on the job (or if the employee causes injury to others and their property while on the job), or if a business guest or supplier is injured while on your property.

Having proper and adequate coverage can protect you from losses that can cripple or devastate your HBB.

Contact us today for a FREE quote on commercial insurance for small to large businesses!

Visit members1st.org and click here or call us at (800) 283-2328, ext. 5245.

Insurance Services available to PA and MD residents only. Insurance products are not federally insured and are not obligations of or guaranteed by Members 1st FCU, Members 1st Insurance Services, or any other affiliated entity.

About Members 1st FCU

We are a Credit Union in Southcentral PA, offering a full line of products and services to consumers and businesses since 1950. With branch locations across our service area, there's a Members 1st wherever you are - and if you're out of the area, connect with us online and via your mobile device.
Federally insured by NCUA. We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Credit Opportunity Act.